Combined container and dispenser for liquids



July l0, 1951 o. E. IHLE ET AL 2,559,877

COMBINED CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE COMBINED CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS Orden E. Ihle, Glendale, and Edwin J. Kapteyn, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Orden E. Ihle, doing business as Ihle Manufacturing Company, Glendale, Calif.

Application December 6, .1948,.Serial.No..63,814

ment and for dispensing the liquid into glasses as required. It is customary to first place crushed ice into a glass before lling the same with the juice, the ice serving to cool the juice. While various means have been proposed for cooling the yfruit juice or other beverage prior to .its being dispensed, such cooling means have certain disadvantages which detract from their efliciency and usefulness. For example, in some such devices, the liquid is cooled by ice disposed in a `compartment arranged below the liquid compartment and through which the liquid passes as it dispensed, such devices being ineffectual in Simultaneously cooling the entire volume of the liquid and consequently ineiiicient in performing their intended functions. In devices wherein the 4ice compartment is arranged above the liquid :uid it has one disadvantage in that the ice conceals the liquid content of the juice container and the appearance of the dispenser is greatly impaired.

It is an important object of this invention to .provide a liquid container and dispensing device having a container for containing fruit juice or other liquid beverage, the liquid being visible through the wall of the container, and a compartment disposed alongside said liquid container .and adapted to contain ice for cooling the liquid. rA related object is to provide a dispenser in which lthe surface area of the wall between the two compartments is relatively large so that adequate cooling of the liquid is effected even though the ice does not contact the entire peripheral Wall of the liquid container, and it is a further object toprovide an ice compartment, the wall of which is translucent so that the ice is invisible to an observer.

Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing .device of the .character referred to in which the compartments for liquid and ice are enclosed by a shell or .jacket which is spaced therefrom .to

vin eating and drinking establishments for hold- Aing a supply of fruit juice or other liquid refreshprovide a thermal insulating dead air space so as to avoid transfer Vof heat from the atmosphere to rthe ice which would, of course, melt the same. Another relative object is toprovide a dispensing device in which the jacket has an outer, irregular, light-diffusing surface which produces a "frosty appearance so that the impression of coldness is conveyed tothe observer.

.Another object ofthe invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device in which the `main elements are adapted for manufacture from plastic material, and one which has a base member for supportingthe receptacle and a cover member ,for closing the open top of the receptacle, the

inventionfurther providing thermal insulating means disposed between the receptacle ,and the base, member andbetween the receptacle and the `cover member so as to reduce the melting of the ice to aminimum.

Another object is to provide a .liquid dispenser which embodies agitator means for continuously agitating ,the fruit juice or other liquid to maintain the consistency of the dispensed juice ,substantially uniform. A related object is to provide agitator means which consists of a light .weight plate-like blade carried by a chain which,

4in turn, is .connectedto and suspended from the drive shaft of a small electric motor disposed within the cover member.

Further objects Vof the invention will appear from the following description of the device and from the drawing, Which is for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is `a side elevational view of a liquid dispensingr device constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain portions of the device being broken away to reveal the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. ,3 is a vview similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative construction.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the lower portion of `a liquid dispensing device of modified construction; and

Fig. 5 isa vertical sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring'to the drawing in detail, the present improved liquid storing and dispensing device includes a 'base member 5. The Ybase member S'has a plate element 6 which may be .made ,from pressed woodbers or other material and. adapted yto rest upon a lcounter or shelf, the elementbe- ,drical. hold aquantity of ice or ice water, is substantialvly crescent shape in plan view. The temperature the plate element 6, the element being forced thereinto and retained in place by a suitable adhesive. The plate element 6 and band 'I together provide a cup-shaped assembly for receiving the lower end of a tubular element 8, also of substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, the element being secured in place by any suitable means. Se-

cured to and surrounding the upper end of the tubular element 8 is a second stainless steel band I0. A Support plate I I, constructed from pressed wood fibers or the like, rests upon the upper end of the tubular element 8 and serves to support the ice and liquid receptacle I2 to be next described.

The receptacle I2 is composed of several parts which are made from any suitable transparent plastic material. such as 'methyl' niethacrylate and secured together by a suitable adhesive. `The receptacle I2 includes" an outer tubular shell f member or jacket I3 which is of substantially elliptical cross section and of a size to adapt it to be received within the upper projecting end of the band I0. The outersurface of the jacket I3 is sand-blasted or otherwise treated to produce a pebbeled effect which effects a frosted appearance.

Disposed within the shell member I3 is a tubular receptacle member I5 of the same cross section as the shell member. The member I5 is spaced inwardly from the side of the shell member I3 so that a vertical space I6 is provided between these members. The shell member I3 and receptacle member I5 are joined at their lower ends by a substantially elliptical bottom plate i1 and at their top portion by a substantially elliptical strip I8. It is thus seen that the members I3 and l5 are held in spaced relation and that the intervening space IB is entirely closed. The dead air space le provides a thermal insulation area surrounding the receptacle member I5 for reducing the rate of heat transfer from the atmosphere to the receptacle member for the purpose to be later explained. The assembled receptacle I2, composed of the plastic shell member I3, the receptacle member l5, the plate I'I and strip I8,

is adapted to be supported by the base member 5,

as shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of plastic blocks I 8', I9 and 20 being joined to the bottom of the plate I1 and serving as feet which rest upon the sup-- port plate II within the confines of the band I0.

The blocks I8 and IQ are provided with angular passages or discharge ports 2l and 22 respectively, these ports communicating with the interior of the receptacle member I5. Faucets or petcocks 24 and 25 have threaded stems passingY through holes in the band III and screwed into the outer threaded ends of the respective ports -2l and 22, these faucets being employed for conof the fruit juice or other beverage in the container 3| is effectively cooled through the .partition 3!! which serves as a heat transferer and which is maintained cool by the ice or ice Water within the container 32. As aparticularfeature 'of the present invention, the'partitio'n 30 has a relatively large surface area so that a very effective cooling of the liquid in the container 3I is produced. Stated another Way the partition 30 has a considerably larger surface area than if it were made straight and extended transversely of the receptacle member I5. By this provision,

. substantially one half the total surface of the wall of the juice container 3l is in contact with the ice or ice water in the container 32 so that an adequate cooling action is effected. Preferably the upper end of the circular wall which defines the juice compartment 3I projects above the strip I3 to provide a bead 33 which serves as a baifle to prevent moisture which might condense on the strip from fiowing down into the juice compartment.

While the receptacle member I5 has been described as a substantially elliptical part which is divided into the two compartments or containers 3| and 32 by the curved partition 3D, in actual practice it has been found advantageous, for purposes of manufacture, to make the receptacle member from two components as shown in Fig. 2. That is to say, the receptacle member can be conveniently produced by utilizing an extruded, cylindrical, plastic tube for the liquid container, and a U-shaped plastic element, the vertical edges of which are suitably joined to the periphery of the tube. By this construction, standard plastic tubing can be employed and a portion of the Wall thereof, in the present instance substantially one half of the entire Wall, provides the partition for dividing the receptacle member into the two compartments or containers 3| and 32. The U-shaped plastic element is preferably sandblasted on its outer or inner surface so as to produce a translucent effect which tends to further obscure the particles of ice disposed in the container 32. It is thus seen that While the fruit juice in the container 3l is visible to the observer, the cooling medium is quite invisible and vthe appearance of the dispenser as a Whole is erihanced. It is also to be noted that the desirable appearance of the dispensing device is obtained by the use of plastic materials adapted for economical manufacture and convenient assembly s o that the cost of producing the article is maintained at a low figure.

It will be apparent that the plastic shell member I3 can be made as an extrusion or produced from a sheet of plastic, in which case the vertical edges of the sheet are suitably joined in a butt or overlapping joint in any suitable manner. rIt is also obvious that the plastic sheets from which the member I3 and the U -shaped element might be produced can be preformed with any suitable ornamentation, such as the sand-blast effect mentioned previously, during the rolling or molding of the sheets.

The liquid dispensing device also includes a closure member or cover 40 for closing the upper end of the receptacle member I5. The cover 4I) may comprise a substantially elliptical lower plate 4I made from pressed wood fibers or the like, yand a stainless steel band B2 which surrounds the edge of the plate, the plate being forced into the band and retained therein by a suitable adhesive or by any other means. Nested within the upper projecting end of the band 42 and resting upon the plate 4I is a perforated tube 43 which carries a stainless steel band 44 at its upper end. The cover lll also has a second plate 44', similar to the plate 4I, which rests upon the upper end of the tube 43 within the band 44.

The several components of the cover 40 de'- fscribedaboveimay be held-in assembled relation- -ship by means vof a bolt passing through .aligned holes in ltheplates 44' and'4l. The bolt 45 hasv a knob-like head -46 whichabuts the plate --44 anda nut4l screwed onto the lower threaded A.end of the bolt and set up vagainst the plate 4|, drawsthe several-parts together. A sheet48 of .cork or other material having a -loW coellicientfof Aheat conductivity is preferably cemented to the bottom surface ofthe plate 4|, the sheet being adapted to seal the upper end of the receptacle Ymember |5 when the cover 401s in place thereon. It is also to be noted that the bottom of thereceptacle member |5is insulated from the atmosphere by a mat of plastic foam, glass wool or other suitable material 49 disposed between-the .bottom ofthe receptacle member and the support .plate- I.

To .ll the container .3| with fruit juice or other Asoft drinks, it is necessary'to -merely remove the cover 40, by means of the knob 46, after which the liquid refreshment can be poured into the container and the cover again placed on the receptacle member. In a like manner, a supply of crushed ice can beconveniently placed-in `the vcompartment 32.

To dispense the fruit juicefromthe container 3I,a.glass is held beneath the spout of the faucet 24 and the faucet opened to permit flow of the liquid through the port 2|. It is also desirable to drain waterfrom the ice compartment 32 and this is accomplished by opening the ypetcock 25 to allow flow of the water through the port 22.

When certain liquids `such as orange juice are to be dispensed, it is highly desirable that the liquid be continuously -agitatedso as to prevent settling of the fruit pulp in the bottom ofthe container 3|. In the present device,vsuch agitation `is produced by a plastic stiirer oragitatonelement 50 which is carried at the lower end of a plastic chain 5|. The upper end of the chain 5| is attached to the shaft 52 of a small electric motor 53 which is disposed within the cover 40 .and secured to the lower plate 4| thereof. Circulation of air around the motor 53 for cooling purposes is permitted through the perforations of the tube 43. During operation of the motor 53, the chain 5| and its connected agitator element 50 are rotated at a relatively slow rate of speed and the element 50 functions to stir or'agitate the liquid content of the container 3|. When the `cover 40 is removed to permit lling of the device, the agitator means is simultaneously Withdrawn from the device.

It is Within Athe concept of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing device in which the receptacle member is constructed in accordance with the modification shown-in-Fig. 8. In this alternative construction, the receptacle 4member is composed of two plastic containers 6| and 62 whichfhave abutting side wallsi'63 rand 64 cemented or otherwise secured together. The .containers 6| and 62 also have adjacent but diverging walls 65 and 66, a V-shaped opening 66 thus being provided between the containers. The containers 6| and'62 also have slanted rear walls 61 and 68. A U-shaped plastic element 'l0 has its vertical edges secured to theouter sidesof the containersl and `62 and defines with the walls 65, 6l Vand 66, 68 an ice compartment 1|. 7.o

Itis to be noted that the walls 65, 6l and 66, 68 provide heat transfer partitions between-the liquid containers and the ice compartment, and that these partitions provide relatively great surface areas so that adequate cooling of the two liquids in the containers :6| and 62 is effected. In

other respects, the dispenser illustrated in Fig. 3 f

isidentical in construction to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, av shellmember or jacket 12'surrounding the-receptacle member 60 to provide a dead air insulating space 13 therebetween.

.Referring .now toFigs. 4 and 5, the present inventionalso contemplates they use of an agitator means of alternative construction. In this .embodiment of the invention the receptacle mem- .ber defines a juice compartment 8| and is en- `closed by ashell 62, the member and shellhaving a common bottom wall 83. As shown in Fig. 51, .the receptacle member 80 includes a tubular element 84,which defines the juice compartment 8|, ,and a yU-shaped element 85 which denes with said, tubular .element an ice compartment 86 of substantially crescent-shaped outline. The end .portions .of the sides of the U-shaped .ele- .ment are, as in the embodiment illustrated in lFigs. 1 to 3, joined to the periphery of the tubularelement -84 but in the modified form spacer elements .86 are interposed between these end portions and the periphery of the element 84 so as to avoid sharp angular crevices in which 'foreign matter might lodge.

The receptacle member .80 is supported by a base member which consists of a two-part bottom plate 9|, to theV periphery of which is secured a perforated metal tube 92. A plate of berboard 93 rests upon the upper end of the tube 92 and v'supports a lawer 94 .ofinsulating material, such vas foam ,plastic material. Resting upon thelay- `er` 9'4 is .a plastic top plate 95 having walls defining a well 96. A metal band 9,1 surrounds the upper 4end of the base 90 and above the top thereof to enclose the vwhich is supported by the plate 95.

An electric motor .|00 is supported by mounting means |0| from the bottom plate 9| and has an upwardly projecting shaft |02 which extends into the Well 96. The upper .reduced -end of the imotor shaft |02 carries a plastic disc |03 in l:whichis held a pair of permanent `magnet bars .|05. Disposed above therotatable disc |03, With- `inthe ,juice compartment 8|, isa similar disc |06 'which also has a pair of permanent magnet bars |01. The disc |06 has an axial bushing |08 vwhich is lrotatable on a vertical stud or pin |09. The pin |09 has ahead I0 seated in a recess inthe upper vsurface of the bottom plate 83 at lthecenter ofthe juice compartment 8|. Adjacent the motor |00, the shaft |02 carriesa .fan I2 for circulating air through the base 90 for the purpose of maintaining the motor cool.

.During operation of the motor |60, the shaft |02 and disc |03 carried thereby are rotated at a relativelyhigh rate of speed. Due to the mag-- netic fields set up between the permanent magnetsl05-and Y||l`| of the respective discs |63 and |06, the disc |06 is caused to rotate at the same speedY as thedisc |63. The frictional engagement .of ^the Vdisc V|06 with the juice within the compartment .8| causes a-swirling agitation of the ljuice so that the fruit pulp of the juice is held insuspension and prevented from settling to the vbottom of the ljuice compartment.

While we have-herein shown and described the liquid .dispensing .device asV embodied in several preferred forms ofA construction, by way of example, it is obvious that other modifications might be Ymade therein without .departing from the )spirit o'f theinvention Consequently, we do not wish'tobe llimited in this respect, but desire to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

.lower `end of the receptacle We claim as our invention:

1. A liquid dispensing device, comprising: an outer shell member; a receptacle member disposed within said outer shell member with its sides in spaced relation thereto to provide a thermal insulating space therebetween, said receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom; vertical transverse partition means within said receptacle member extending between opposite walls thereof and dividing the interior thereof into at least two containers, at least one of said containers being adapted to contain a liquid to be dispensed and having a discharge port therein, and at least one of said containers being adapted to contain a cooling agent for cooling said liquid, said partition means having relatively high thermal conductivity so as to cause said cooling agent to effect cooling of said liquid, said partition means being non-planar and having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of said receptacle member; manually operable means for controlling discharge of the liquid through said port; and cover means for closing the top of said receptacle.

2. A liquid dispensing device as dened in claim 1 and including: a base member for supporting said outer shell member and Said receptacle member; upper and lower wall means extending between said shell member and said receptacle member and closing the ends of said insulating space; and a cover member restable upon said upper wall means for closing the top of said receptacle member, said cover member having a peripheral band surrounding the upper end of said shell member.

3. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 1 in which said receptacle member is provided with feet, said port extending through one of said feet, and including: a base member supporting said outer shell member and said receptacle member with said feet resting upon said base member; a removable cover member closing the open top of said receptacle member; and thermal insulating means disposed between said receptacle member and said base member, and between said receptacle member and said cover member.

4. A liquid dispensing device as dened in claim 1 and including: a hollow base member supporting said outer shell and said receptacle member, a hollow removable cover member closing the top of said receptacle member; thermal insulating means disposed between said receptacle member and said base member and between said receptacle member and said cover member; an electric motor mounted within and supported by said cover member; and a. rotatable agitator means within said container for liquid, said agitator means being rotated by said motor.

5. A liquid dispensing device, comprising: an outer shell member of substantially elliptical cross section; a. receptacle member of substantially elliptical cross section disposed within said shell member with its sides in spaced relation thereto to provide a thermal insulating space therebetween, said receptacle having a closed bottom and open top; a semi-circular partition extending transversely and vertically between opoosite walls thereof within said receptacle member and dividing the interior thereof into a substantially cylindrical container adapted to contain a supply of liquid to be dispensed, and a container of substantially crescent-shaped crosssection adapted to contain a cooling agent for cooling said liquid, said partition having relatively high thermal conductivity so as to cause said cooling agent to effect cooling of said liquid, the walls of said containers having discharge ports therein through which the liquid can be dispensed and the cooling agent can be withdrawn; and valve means for controlling the flow of liquid and cooling agent through said ports.

6. A liquid dispensing device, comprising: an outer shell member of substantially elliptical cross section; a receptacle member of substantially elliptical cross section disposed within said shell member with its sides in spaced relation thereto to provide a thermal insulating space therebetween, said receptacle having a closed bottom and open top; a vertical partition within said receptacle member dividing the interior thereof into a pair of containers each adapted to contain a supply of liquid to be dispensed, and a third container adapted to contain a cooling agent, the portions of said partition between each container for liquid and said container for cooling agent having a surface area greater than one-V half the cross-sectional area of said receptacle member, said partition having relatively high thermal conductivity so as to cause said cooling agent to eiect cooling of said liquid, the walls of said containers having discharge ports therein through which the liquid can be dispensed and the cooling agent withdrawn; and valve means for controlling the flow of liquid and cooling agent through said ports.

7. A liquid dispensing device as dened in claim l and including: an agitator disc rotatable within said container for liquid; rotary power means disposed outside said container; and cooperable magnetic means on said disc and said power means by which said disc is rotated by said power means.

8. A liquid dispensing device as defined in claim 1 and including: an agitator disc rotatable within said container for liquid and provided with at least one permanent magnet bar extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said disc; a driving disc coaxial with said agitator disc and rotatable outside said container, said driving disc having at least one permanent magnet bar extending transversely of its axis of rotation; and power means for rotating said driving disc, magnetic elds set up between said magnet bars of said discs causing said agitator disc to be rotated by said driving disc.

ORDEN E. IHLE. EDWIN J. KAPTEYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

James Aug. 15, 

